What Language

[steveno]

I had one year of basic German in the 10 th grade. I was amazed myself on how much I remembered when I got stationed in Germany 5 years later and especially since I wasn't paying too much attention in class. My mother mentioned to my grandmother that I was taking German in high school and from that point on everything she said to me was in German. the problem was it was a different dialect than what was being taught. Even now I might still be able to get something to eat off of a German menu but wouldn't have a clue if they handed me an English menu. at about the time I was due to get out in July of 1973 I had some thought about getting a European out and spending more time over there. however there is a BIG difference between ordering something off of a menu and actually having to live there.

 

[nawilson]

I picked up some Arabic while advising an Iraqi infantry battalion. Talk about a tough language to learn! I think any language that uses another alphabet is tough because you can't go to the written word to learn the sounds and must rely totally on what you hear.

These days, I wish I knew more Spanish. I was pretty good with the old "Do you have a license? ... Write your name and date of birth.... You're under arrest... hands behind your back." As fishinfool said, there is only so much use for that though.

 

[sigp220.45]

Latin. Even a dummy like me sounds smart spouting off in Latin.

 

[mtgianni]

My Spanish is good to decent and I was able to converse in Italy after getting a few grammar books and pronunciation cd's. If I were pressed or dealing with a fast speaker I found myself reverting to Spanish. I was only in Italy a week and thought the longer I was there the easier it would have been. We will go back someday. having decent Spanish allows me to read French and Portuguese with 25-50% comprehension.
AFA another tongue Russian or Chinese along with English and Spanish should put you able to communicate almost anywhere.

 

[labworm]

I would like to be able to speak Spanish, so I can hear what they're saying about me.
I would like to be able to speak German, so they can't understand what I'm saying about them.

Funny you should say that.

When out shopping at the super market I may have a cashier and helper speaking Spanish in front of me while ringing up my order.

I then hit them with a few lines in Polish, the facial expressions

 

[tops]

I had a Grandfather that came over from Germany in the 1740s and it is written in our family history that after he got her he wouldn't speak German anymore. He said he wasn't in Germany anymore and wasn't going to speak the language. It makes sense to me. Larry

 

[PatAz]

I wish I had taken more Spanish and less French.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Funny you should say that.

When out shopping at the super market I may have a cashier and helper speaking Spanish in front of me while ringing up my order.

I then hit them with a few lines in Polish, the facial expressions

I have known quite a few Polish-Americans, mostly from Chicago.
They make great sausage, but they seem to have a problem replacing light bulbs.

 

[yaktamer]

Austrian.

 

[bhayles]

My D-I-L is from Germany and took French (and refers to it as the most worthless language anywhere).

Germans have never thought much of anything French except the trees along the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. Germans prefer to march in the shade.

 

[the ringo kid]

I would like to be able to speak Spanish, so I can hear what they're saying about me.
I would like to be able to speak German, so they can't understand what I'm saying about them.

I understand enough Spanish to know when im being talked about. I normally reply in kind wit my limited german which leaves themwith blank looks on their faces and creates a chance for conversation. So far, its always ended well.

 

[the ringo kid]

I had one year of basic German in the 10 th grade. I was amazed myself on how much I remembered when I got stationed in Germany 5 years later and especially since I wasn't paying too much attention in class. My mother mentioned to my grandmother that I was taking German in high school and from that point on everything she said to me was in German. the problem was it was a different dialect than what was being taught. Even now I might still be able to get something to eat off of a German menu but wouldn't have a clue if they handed me an English menu. at about the time I was due to get out in July of 1973 I had some thought about getting a European out and spending more time over there. however there is a BIG difference between ordering something off of a menu and actually having to live there.

I found the German version of "Hillbilly" was interesting. One of my best German friends is the German equal to being a Hillbilly.

 

[the ringo kid]

Germans have never thought much of anything French except the trees along the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. Germans prefer to march in the shade.

There are two versions (till now) I heard of that joke.

1) why do the Germans march in Paris? They dont like marching in the sun.
2) """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" They like marching in the shade.

 

[gm272gs]

I guess I should relearn English without the swear words in every sentence. One can pick up a lot of bad habits being around Navy types.

 

[snubbyfan]

I'd like for my wife and I to be fluent in Blackfoot. When I was a youngster my Dad and Uncle Roy taught me how to count to ten and some words, phrases and stories but that was a long time ago and I probably don't even use the correct pronunciation any more.

 

[the ringo kid]

Germans have never thought much of anything French except the trees along the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. Germans prefer to march in the shade.

There are two other versions of this joke ive heard.

1) Why do Germans like to march in Paris? They dont likemarching in the sun.
2) """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""? They like marching in the shade.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Back to my German D-I-L, when we were talking about French. One of her comments was that is no wonder "They" always made the french people speak German when "They" occupied their country!

As far as German "Hillbilly" goes, the Bavarians speak with a thick accent, to the point that northern Germans cannot understand them, and my D-I-L would hang up the phone on them at work, and the boss agreed! I have friends with Austrian roots and they seem to be understood with little extra effort in Frankfort or Berlin.

My D-I-L's maternal grand parents were from 2 villages about 8k apart in the East Sector. When they married they couldn't understand a word they said to each other. Television has standardized languages in many countries. To help my grandchildren maintain the German language, in our family all Disney movies are bought in the German edition. They have proper (meaning Northern) pronunciation and very accurate translation. It is a hoot to see "The Fox and The Hound"! Ivan

 

[the ringo kid]

My point exactly with German hillbilly. I was touring Deutschland with my friend Susanne--who is from Bavaria. We stayed with 10or soWWII German Kriegsmarine vets who had a hard time understanding Susanne. They understood me better and even though Mein Deutsch ist veri Schlecht, so they wound upasking very politely, that we speak English and their excuse was-so that they could learn English easier.)

 

[rwsmith]

If I needed to be fluent in a language....

For reasons stated above Spanish would be numero uno.

For fun the one I would most like to study is French.

I wish I was multilingual, I'd learn Italian, Russian and Chinese. A native American language would be fun, too.

 

[rwsmith]

Heil!

As far as German "Hillbilly" goes, the Bavarians speak with a thick accent, to the point that northern Germans cannot understand them, and my D-I-L would hang up the phone on them at work, and the boss agreed! I have friends with Austrian roots and they seem to be understood with little extra effort in Frankfort or Berlin.

Heil, Ya'll!